Teacher Time Webinars

How we are planning on teaching (and living) in the coming year? To kick off our new series of interactive, live webinars for teachers, BRI staff Gary Colletti and Elizabeth Evans examined 2020 in hindsight and 2021 in foresight from both pedagogical and principle-based perspectives. They offer honest insights into the difficulties and highlight the bright spots in the world of teaching history and civics.

How do we explore the full stories of history with students when there is a shortage of time and curricular resources? A complete curriculum doesn’t necessarily exist. History is a constant conversation as we discover new ideas and explore new lenses from which stories are heard and told. Join Gary and Liz as they discuss how we can invite students to dialogue and lasting curiosity.

Beyond “teacher”–what are your other areas of interest, and what do those mean for your classroom? Teachers often have amazing hobbies and interests outside of teaching. In this episode, we explore how our hobbies enhance our teaching or simply give us a break from the classroom “headspace”. Liz and Gary are joined by Matt Logan, a teacher for seven years in World Geography, AP Human Geography, and World History at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.

How do we connect students with people from the past (and present) whose voices they might not typically hear? We often hear from the same “cast” of historical characters. With a full curriculum and limited time, how can listening to the voices of people in history that are not already “covered in-depth” help widen students’ understanding of history?

How do we “meet” our students –in terms of who they are as individuals, and in their connection to the curriculum? In this episode, we look at teaching “the students in front of you” and how that is complex yet crucial to the life of the class.

How do history and civics connect with the other fields in the humanities, and what is their place in the classroom in 2021? In this episode of Teacher Time with BRI, Gary and Liz explore the definition of the humanities and what it means to cross curriculum with other humanities teachers.

What are summers like for teachers? For some, summer provides a break, but for many teachers, it provides time to lesson plan, attend professional development, or work a summer job. In this episode, we explore what switching to “summer mode” can mean for teachers (and at BRI) with special guest Molly Schneider, AP U.S. History and Dual-Enrollment American Government and Politics Teacher at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School in Chardon, Ohio.

How is your classroom helped by expansive “circles” of the teaching community? Teachers of social studies know... it’s really a small world! You find out you know more people than you even realize! From your department to school to the local community to colleagues in other places. In this episode, Liz talks with teachers Andrea Martin, Julie Scheppele, Jennifer Jolley, and Kimberly Huffman about how those circles form and how teachers can benefit from such an extensive professional learning network.

How do we utilize what is available in materials, and what do we do that goes beyond them? In this episode, BRI staff Gary Colletti and Elizabeth Evans discuss the balance of teaching history as it is happening with textbook learning. What kinds of traditional textbooks are the most useful, and what kinds of supplemental material are available?

How do we engage with “fundamental skills” in Social Studies? Nothing against Arithmetic, but let’s make room to talk about the “basics” of social studies classrooms! What is the essence of studying social studies?

How do we deal with disruption? The best-laid plans are often interrupted by a plethora of distractions. Sometimes, we see it coming, other times...surprise! How do we embrace the distractions and get back on track? Liz is joined by Karen Washington, US History and Civics teacher at Greater Lowell Technical High School in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.